as in restores
to free from moral guilt or blemish especially ceremonially
a day on which the faithful are expected to purge themselves of their sins through prayer and fasting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of purges
Haugh lets out the occasional wince, twitch and groan as Patterson kneads knotted muscles and purges lactic acid build-up so Florida’s leading scorer and ironman can continue to shoulder his heavy workload.
—
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Unless a Nest user subscribes to a service that allows for quick access to review footage recorded on a device, Google routinely purges the footage rather than retain it indefinitely, said Stacey Higginbotham, a policy fellow at Consumer Reports who specializes in cybersecurity issues.
—Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Unless the Heat releases Terry Rozier or purges some other salary in a trade, Miami would not have enough space to sign a 15th player to a standard contract — and remain under the luxury tax line — until December.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026
Unless a Nest user subscribes to a service that allows for quick access to review footage recorded on a device, Google routinely purges the footage rather than retain it indefinitely, said Stacey Higginbotham, a policy fellow at Consumer Reports who specializes in cybersecurity issues.
—Safiyah Riddle, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026
Unless the Heat releases Terry Rozier or purges some other salary in a trade, Miami would not have enough space to sign a 15th player to a standard contract — and remain under the luxury tax line — until December.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for purges
Verb
-
Lightweight yet deeply moisturizing, this firming formula restores elasticity and resilience to thin, crepey skin.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Name your values and state your boundaries, then celebrate your courage with something that restores your spark.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Shani Darden's Allure Best of Beauty Award-winning Triple Acid Signature Peel delivers almost immediate radiance, thanks to a two-step process that deeply resurfaces and cleanses skin.—
Annie Blackman,
Allure,
28 Feb. 2026
-
This one not only deposits color, but also gently cleanses and conditions the hair.—
Iman Balagam,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Garza, Queta’s primary understudy while Nikola Vucevic’s fractured ring finger heals, continued the trend early in the second quarter, converting three layups in a three-minute span.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
15 Mar. 2026
-
That admission runs counter to the tidy grief narrative most people carry around — the idea that time heals in a straight line.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Designed with a blend of advanced filters, including stainless steel mesh and activated carbon, Aquabliss’ Shower Filter purifies your water and enriches it with vitamin C and tourmaline, revealing softer skin and glossier strands.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In the biblical sense, the refiner’s fire not only destroys, but purifies the slate clean for novel growth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Purges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/purges. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
